Device for cleaning spray tubes



March 5, 1957 E. JOHANSSON DEVICE FOR CLEANING SPRAY'TUBES Filed Sept. 19, 1955 X L x m a v Q Q\ N N r. H. mm 0% N v N\ Q m I Q IIIII In wwm m wmwmi m I. in..- -H..- h A w n x Q Q N vx MLH. G x xxx H Qx Kr.

United States Patent DEVICE FOR CLEANING SPRAY TUBES Evert Johansson, Skovde, Sweden, assignor to Aktlebolaget A. Ekstriims Maskinafiiir, Stockholm, Sweden, a joint-stock company of Sweden Application September 19, 1955, Serial No. 535,224

4 Claims. (Cl. 299-59) Tubes, so-called spray tubes having fine holes arranged along one or more generatrices are used in the technics for different purposes, for example for spraying the pulp web of the wire sieve in the production of paper.

Such spray tubes have the disadvantage that the holes are often choked and must be cleaned.

The object of this invention is to eliminate this drawback by providing approximately concentrically in the interior of the spray tube a tube or a rod which is turnable from without and provided with one or more longitudinal scrapes or plates which rest against the inner wall of the spray tube.

The invention is illustrated by an example in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a front view, partly in section, of a spray tube according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a section along the line II-II in Fig. 1 on a larger scale, and

Fig. 3 is a section along the line III-III in Fig. 1 on a larger scale.

Referring now to the drawing 1 designates a tube which is provided along a generatrix with fine holes or slots. The tube 1 is at its ends provided with connection pieces 3 and 4, one of which at least, for example 3, being bent or forms an angle with the longitudinal direction of the tube 1. The connection piece 3 is provided with a tubular projection 5 coaxial with the tube 1, which pro jection forms bearing for a pivot 6 which at the outer end is provided with a handle 7 and is at the inner end connectible by means of a pin 8 or the like to a tube or rod 9 provided in the interior of the tube 1 or rigidly connected to the said tube or rod 9.

On the outer surface of the inner tube 9 there is provided one or more longitudinal or obliquely placed scrapes or plates 10 and opposite the said scrapes or plates there are attached to the outer surface of the inner tube small tube pieces 11 protruding at right angles, the said tube pieces serving as guides for small pins 12, which at their outer ends are provided with a circle sectorshaped heads 13 against which compression springs 14 rest, which are arranged around the tube pieces.

The tube 9 is carried at its ends by supports 15 introduced into the outer tube 1, the said support bearings being actuated by springs 16 which, together with the springs 14 holds the scrapes 10 pressed against the inner surface of the outer tube 1. The connection piece 3 is connected to a conduit 17 which transcends into two branch conduits 20, 21, each provided with its respec tive valve 18, 19, one of the branch conduits, 20, being connected to a source containing a spray liquid, not shown, and the other one, 21, being connected to an outlet.

The connection piece 4 is connected via a valve 22, to a source of pressure fluid, not shown.

The spray tube with appurtenant parts can be made of different kinds of material, for example copper, brass,

ice

stainless or acid-proof material or plastic, ebonite or a similar material. l

As already mentioned, the spray tube can be made with one or more rows of holes or slots, all depending on the purity of the liquid which is used, for example pure water or water containing fibres.

The mode of action of the device is as follows:

When the spray tube is to be cleaned, the valve 18 is closed and the valves 19 and 22 are opened. Thereafter the inner tube or rod 9 is turned to and fro by means of the handle 7, so that the scrape 10 cleans the holes or slots 2 and cuts off impurities which have stuck. The impurities cut oil are rinsed out through the valve 19 together with pressure water entering through the valve 22. The inner tube may be turned automatically, for example at a determined time.

The method mentioned above is advantageous when cleaning of sieves or any other device are concerned, which are to be kept clean all over their surfaces, when a powerful pressure of rinsing is required.

As the spray tube is always under pressure, even when being cleaned, it may also be used in a liquid without the liquid entering the spray tube.

If, on some occasion, more marked jets are desired on a certain part of the pulp web of the sieve, or if a certain part of the pulp is to be more diluted, this can be obtained by covering those parts of the spray tube which are not to be used, with flaps of a similar construction as the sector which has the function of pressing against the inner surface of the spray tube, thus turnable.

Having now described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a cleaning device, the combination comprising a supply pipe having a series of ports formed therein to pass a fluid, a tube supported on its longitudinal axis within said pipe, means operable from the exterior of said pipe to rotate said tube on its supports, at least one longitudinal plate fixed to said tube and radiating outwardly to the interior surface of said pipe, a plurality of pins piercing the said tube in a row diametrically opposed to the said plate, a head fixed to each said pin and forming an arc of such radius as to coincide with the interior surface of said pipe, and a spring urging between each respective head and the said tube to force the said plate against the interior surface of said pipe.

2. In a cleaning device, the combination comprising a supply pipe having an assemblage of cavities formed therethrough to pass fluid, a tube supported on its longitudinal axis within said pipe, means operable from the exterior of said pipe to rotate said tube on its supports, at least one elongated plate fixed to said tube on its longer dimension and having such width as to radiate outwardly to extend substantially between the outer surface of the said tube and the inner surface of said pipe, an array of pins piercing the said tube in a row diametrically opposed to the said plate, a head fixed to each respective pin and forming a segment of a circle of such radius as to coincide with the interior of said pipe, and a spring urging between each respective head and the said tube to force the said tube against the interior surface of said pipe.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 2, including a plurality of guides fixed to said tube to receive the said pins, the said springs embracing the said guides.

4. In a cleaning device, the combination comprising a supply pipe having a series of holes formed therein, a tube within said pipe, means to rotatably support said tube on its longitudinal axis, at least one elongated plate fixed for rotation with said tube and extending outwardly to the interior of said pipe, a plurality of pin members piercing the said tube in a row Opposed to the said plate,"

Patented Mar. 5, 1957 mamas a a an arcuate head on each respective pin, and a compression spring surrounding each said pin and urging between the respective head and said tube to force said plate against said pipe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,180,807 Vedder Apr. 25, 1916 4 v Spafiord July 16, 1929 Paramor et a1. Apr. 16, 1935 

